14:38 Exeter

Sunday 26 November 2023

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:3815:1015:45

DAA Racing To Save Lives Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:38 | Winning time: 4m 18.01s

Interne De Sivola^p1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 112| D

22/1

Dual juvenile hurdle winner for Nick Williams during 2021/22 campaign. Didn't take to fences last season and pulled up at Warwick back hurdling on his return. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 36F5P-P

Orchard Grove⁴⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 110| D

9/1

Four-time winner in 2021 but off 16 months since posting a good third in handicap hurdle at Bangor (19.6f). Handily weighted but the market can prove a good guide.

Form: 172/473-

Stopherandgo²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: K Pickard| OR: 107

28/1

Wincanton novice hurdle winner before posting a very good second in 2m novice at Ludlow. Only sixth on handicap debut at Stratford final start for Claire Harris and others look better treated at these weights.

Form: P2P126-

Max's Champ¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 107

12/1

Blinkered/tongue strap on for 1st time when good second in novice hurdle at Hereford (19.7f) in April. Well below par on handicap debut at Warwick 19 days ago but should strip fitter now.

Form: 34U62-0

Ito Ditto²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 106

3/1

Returned from 7 months off much improved with a maiden win in 12-runner handicap hurdle (8/1) at Chepstow (16f, soft) 26 days ago. Merits consideration despite a 8 lb rise.

Form: 70630-1

Fourofakind¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 105

11/2

Fairly useful form on the Flat in Ireland and scored over hurdles for new stable at Haydock in March. Had wind op before pulled up in handicap hurdle at Sandown (16f, soft) on return though so something to prove now.

Form: 23195-P

Gerard Mentor^t,v¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 104| CD

7/1

C&D winner who arrives in good nick, sixth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (16f, heavy) 19 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: F85226

John W Creasy²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 103

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 33/1, first run since leaving Ms Margaret Mullins when tenth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Ascot (19.3f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 4406-50

Universal Secret²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 101

33/1

Dual 15f scorer at Wincanton in the spring but tongue tied/had wind surgery before being pulled up there on his return last month. Plenty more is required.

Form: 84117-P

Tribesmans Glory^h⁴⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 92

66/1

Fair winning chaser for Tom George in 2020. Lightly raced since and below par over hurdles at Newton Abbot for new yard when last seen out 13 months ago. Hard to fancy.

Form: U24F0/8-

Asian Spice¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: J D Frost| OR: 88| CD

11/4

28/1, much irmpoved on her handicap bow when landing 16-runner handicap hurdle over C&D (soft) 16 days ago, holding on gamely after making her move around the entire field. Up 6 lb but still weighted to go close.

Form: 0/027-51

Flamenco De Kerser¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 80

25/1

Successful once from 5 starts between the flags but he's winless under Rules and looks set for another struggle from 4 lb out of the handicap.

Form: PPP5-70

Non-Runners

Heure De Gloire¹⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: Jack Tudor

Forecasts

Asian Spice (11/4), Ito Ditto (3/1), Fourofakind (11/2), Gerard Mentor (7/1), Orchard Grove (9/1), John W Creasy (11/1), Max's Champ (12/1), Heure De Gloire (14/1), Interne De Sivola (22/1), Flamenco De Kerser (25/1), Stopherandgo (28/1), Universal Secret (33/1), Tribesmans Glory (66/1)

ASIAN SPICE took a big step forward on her handicap bow when getting off the mark over C&D and a 6 lb rise in the weights doesn't look sufficient to prevent Jimmy Frost's mare from following up. C&D scorer Gerard Mentor comes here in good nick and is next on the list ahead of recent Chepstow victor Ito Ditto. Orchard Grove is worth a market check after a long absence too.